January 2018 – Cow Eye Dissection

Following up on our our study of the components and functions of the eye, our middle-school students got to examine them up close by dissecting cow eyes. After discussing how to safely perform dissection, the students were able to expose and examine the parts of the eye including the lens, pupil, cornea, retina, optic nerve. A fun discovery was that the choroid tissue behind the retina in the back of the cow’s eye is partially reflective — explaining why their eyes (as well as other animal’s) “glow” when when you see them at night.